A coalition of 17 states yesterday filed a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's recent executive action on immigration, claiming it is unconstitutional and will cause an economic burden on states.
The purpose of the lawsuit is for the courts to block President Obama's measures announced on November 20 that would take effect next year.
Texas Governor-elect Greg Abbott leads the coalition of states that filed the lawsuit. The other 16 states are: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Named in the lawsuit are the U.S. federal government and the heads of several federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Obama and other senior officials in his administration insist that the President has the authority to take executive action based on existing laws.
